Conestoga’s aggressive defense trumps host Aces in 49-7 win

Lower Merion >> Of all the aspects of Conestoga’s 47-6 win against Lower Merion Saturday, Pioneer head coach Matt Diamond was most pleased with his aggressive defense.
“I was really happy with our defense’s pursuit today, recognizing Lower Merion’s offensive looks, and getting 11 hats to the ball,” said Diamond, who particularly praised his front four of senior Scott Smith, senior Casey Campbell, junior Jason Dollar and senior Matt Hamilton, and senior linebackers Chris Radina and Pat Nichols.
Conestoga (2-5 overall, 2-4 Central League) did not allow a single Lower Merion first down until the final play of the third quarter.
The Pioneers built a 21-0 halftime lead, which they quickly increased to 41-0 midway through the third quarter, thanks to a couple of Lower Merion turnovers and a 63-yard touchdown run by Liam Kirk on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.
Kirk, a 6-foot-, 200-pound senior running back, finished with 202 yards rushing and three touchdowns on only 14 carries.
“Liam ran very well, and there was great blocking from our wide receivers, [senior] Brady Carpenter and [sophomore] Peter Detweiler, that helped spring his long runs,” said Diamond. “Our offensive line also blocked well – [senior] Mitch Benjamin, Casey Campbell, [senior] Andrew Guillocheau, Matt Hamilton – and our tight ends, [senior] Riley Deshetler and Scott Smith, continue to do a good job of blocking in the backfield and catching passes.”
At the helm of the Pioneers’ offense was senior quarterback Chris McGovern, who completed some key passes to keep Conestoga’s long drives going.
“Chris McGovern made smart reads today, making the checks [at the line] that we went through during the week, just controlling everything very well.” said Diamond.
Kirk scored the game’s first touchdown four minutes into the game, a 7-yard run to to right in which he took the snap from center.
A smiling Kirk said, “We call the play ‘Bear Radina’ because we’ve got our big linebacker, Chris Radina, who loves contact, as the lead blocker, He’ll go in there and blow up those holes, open them real wide so I can punch them in.”
A persistent Lower Merion defense and several Conestoga offensive penalties kept the Pioneers off the scorebaord for the rest of the first quarter.
At the beginning of the second period, from midfield, McGovern hit Kirk with a 16-yard pass completion, then two plays later Kirk ran through a good-sized hole in the middle for a 31-yard touchdown.
Following another Lower Merion three-and-out, Conestoga put together an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 26-yard strike from McGovern to an open Scott Smith in the left corner of the end zone.
Coming out of the Arnold Field locker room after halftime with a 21-0 lead, Conestoga returned the second half kickoff to the Pioneers’ 37 yard line, then Kirk took a handoff, made a cut to the left, and outran a Lower Merion defender down the left sideline all the way to the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown.
“I took the handoff, and our big dogs [linemen] did what they do best, opened those holes wide,” said Kirk. “I saw a nice cutback [to the left] because their linebacker went through the A-gap [center-guard gap], and on the backside, our tight end, I think it was Scott Smith, opened a pretty nice hole and it was smooth sailing. I had one guy to beat, and I gave him a little juke move, and it was a race to the pylon.”
Three plays later, Conestoga defensive back Pat Nichols intercepted a Lower Merion pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown and a 34-0 lead.
“Our defense played a heck of a game,” said Kirk. “They came out on fire today, they were making the hits they needed to make, [Lower Merion’s skill players] had nowhere to go. It vwas a fantastic game by our defense.”
The Aces took the ensuing kickoff, then lost a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, Radina scored on a 16-yard run to make it 41-0, starting the continuous clock with 8:34 left in the third quarter.
Once again, Lower Merion took the kickoff then lost a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Seven plays later, Conestoga junior running back James Condi scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 47-0.
Lower Merion’s offense began to move the ball early in the fourth quarter, and put together a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that culminated with sophomore running back Jay Zheng scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run.
Next up for Conestoga is Springfield, followed by Radnor and Haverford High.
“I think we have a chance to do something great in these next few games,” said Kirk. “Our guys are really showing up, and doing some great things on both sides of the ball, defensively, offensively. I think we can get some more wins in the upcoming weeks.”

On the Lower Merion side, LM head coach Evan Breisblatt praised junior outside linebacker/defensive end Phil Cook (five tackles – one for a loss, one sack, one caused fumble, three pressures on the quarterback); sophomore free safty Jack Lledo (eight tackles); junior defensive end D’Shawn Jemison (six tackles, one sack, one QB pressure); and sophomore running back/linebacker Jay Zheng (five tackles, scored the Aces’ lone touchdown).
“We are the youngest team I have ever coached at the varsity level in 24 years,” said Breisblatt. “We start one freshman, 10 sophomores and seven juniors. We had only two seniors who played [against Conestoga]. We will be a much better football team for it in the years to come. Every game is a learning experience.
“Radnor [our opponent Oct. 12] is a very good football team, and we are looking forward to playing in this game. This is the best high school rivalry in the nation.”